On Sunday, September 21, 2014, surrounded by her family, Dolores Irma Waldschmidt left this life to join her Lord and Savior. Born May 29, 1934 to Hattie and William Gehrke, Dolores grew up in Milwaukee, graduating from South Division High School. As a teen she spent many summers at her family’s cabin on the Fox River which provided her with wonderful memories. 

Dolores was united in marriage to Carl Edwin Waldschmidt on June 2, 1956 at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Lannon, WI and celebrated 58 years of marriage together. They made their home in Menomonee Falls and were blessed with awesome children.  

Mom followed a few of Wisconsin’s great sports teams and was a diehard Packers fan, Brewers fan, and Badgers fan. Mom was very passionate about fishing and took every opportunity she could to get out onto a lake or river with her pole. It didn’t’ matter if the fish were biting. She loved being outdoors and maintained the gardens of vegetables and flowers for many years. Dolores was an athlete well into her adult years playing softball. volleyball, and bowling for more years than most. She enjoyed working in the kitchen and was a fantastic cook, keeping her family well fed.  

Mom cherished life and was a friend to all. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Family was mom’s life. She helped care for seven of her grandchildren in their early years and loved every minute of it. She looked forward to her many visits to Iowa to spend time with family.  

Though mom’s last few years were compromised by failing health, she willingly accepted all of these challenges with great strength and dignity. She was strong in her faith and knew that her Shepherd would lead her home.  

Those left to cherish Dolores’ memory are: her husband Carl; children Karen (Craig) Witzel, Kurt (Tammy) Waldschmidt, Lynn (Tom) Ertl, and Mark (his dog, Jack) Waldschmidt; grandchildren Ben (Andrea) Waldschmidt, Nick (Hillary) Waldschmidt, Nathaniel (Jordanne) Waldschmidt, Erin and Adam Waldschmidt, Jeffrey and Andrea Witzel, Ethan and Emily Ertl; great-grandchildren Sawyer and Amelia Waldschmidt; brother Bill (Joyce) Gehrke; brother-in-law Wally Goetsch; brother and sister-in-law Dick and Eleanor Waldschmidt; nieces and nephews.  

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents Hattie and William Gehrke; brother Lester Gehrke; sisters Audrey (Chester) Mieska, Betty (Milo) Sucevich, and Nancy Goetsch; grandchildren Toby and Elisa Ertl. 

Visitation for Dolores will be held on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church (20813 Forest View Dr. Lannon) from 4 PM until time of Funeral Service at 7 PM. Interment will take place on Thursday, at Sunnyside Cemetery, Lannon, at 10:30 AM (please meet us at the cemetery).  

The family would like to thank the staff of Heartland Hospice, all the staff of Purity Dialysis in Menomonee Falls and Germantown, and all the doctors, nurses, and staff at Froedtert Medical Clinic and Community Memorial Hospital for mom’s care and shared compassion. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials appreciated to the church or to the charity of your choice.